Seven Oaks vs Smithtown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Seven Oaks and Smithtown are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 48.3 km and 46.4 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $128 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Smithtown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Seven Oaks | Smithtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,688 | $6,810 | -$122 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,688 | $6,810 | -$122 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,830 | $11,702 | +$128 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,830 | $11,702 | +$128 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Seven Oaks | Smithtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Seven Oaks vs Smithtown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Seven Oaks and Smithtown differ by $128 a year by car, but $250 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $122, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Seven Oaks carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $11,830 and $11,702 a year, so the $128 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Seven Oaks by $122 a year, $6,688 against $6,810.
- Building insurance favours Smithtown by $250 a year, $2,100 against $2,350.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated medium in Seven Oaks against low in Smithtown, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Seven Oaks cumulative | Smithtown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,830 | $11,702 | $128 |
| Year 3 | $36,565 | $36,170 | $395 |
| Year 5 | $62,807 | $62,128 | $679 |
| Year 10 | $135,618 | $134,150 | $1,468 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seven Oaks or Smithtown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Seven Oaks runs $11,830 a year by car and Smithtown $11,702, but most of the $128 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $122. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Seven Oaks and Smithtown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Seven Oaks (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Smithtown (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Seven Oaks and $1,300 in Smithtown. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Seven Oaks and Smithtown?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,688 from Seven Oaks and $6,810 from Smithtown to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Seven Oaks and Smithtown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Seven Oaks costs a cumulative $135,618 and Smithtown costs $134,150 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,468 in favour of Smithtown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Seven Oaks and Smithtown suits you better?
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Sources: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.